More than 40 cities across six continents have pledged their support for the Global Urban Data Centres Pact, a mayoral-led initiative aimed at shaping how data centres are developed in urban areas.
Launched during London Climate Action Week, the pact seeks to set out a vision for managing the expansion of data centre infrastructure while also addressing concerns around energy use, water consumption, emissions and community impacts.
The pact has been endorsed by cities including London, Melbourne, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Mumbai, Nairobi, Sydney, Phoenix and Johannesburg.
According to C40 Cities, which is coordinating the initiative, more than 1,700 data centres are already located across nearly 100 cities within its network.
Responsible growth
“AI and digital infrastructure will play a major role in the future prosperity of cities around the world, but residents are right to expect growth to be managed responsibly,” commented Sadiq Khan, mayor of London and C40 co-chair.
“That’s why I am proud to see cities coming together through the Global Urban Data Centres Pact to help shape a model for growth where innovation, sustainability and the interests of local communities go hand in hand. By working together across borders, cities can learn from each other and help build a cleaner, fairer and more prosperous future for everyone.”
As C40 noted, power demand from global data centres has increased from around 460 terawatt-hours in 2022 to approximately 1,050 terawatt-hours in 2026, with data centre demand continuing to grow significantly faster than overall electricity demand, putting pressure on local authorities.
The pact outlines four principles for future development – firstly, it calls for data centres to be strategically integrated into cities through planning frameworks that respect local communities and avoid displacement. It also advocates for facilities that are resource-efficient, powered by clean energy and designed to minimise environmental impacts.
The pact also seeks to improve accountability and community engagement by encouraging transparency around data centre operations – ensuring local residents have a voice in planning decisions – as well as arguing that facilities should contribute to local infrastructure and economic development rather than increasing costs for surrounding communities.
‘Critical urban resources’
“Data centres are not just buildings; they are major, long-term consumers of critical urban resources, and the decisions being made today about these AI factories will shape local energy systems, water supplies and communities for decades to come,” added Cristina Gamboa, CEO of the World Green Building Council.
“By uniting behind a shared sustainability vision, C40 Cities are doing exactly what this challenge demands: ensuring data centres serve not just the global economy, but the communities and cities that host them.” Read more here.
